DAVAO CITY – Vice Pres. Sara Duterte criticized the administration of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over the weekend accusing it of poor governance, failure to address the country’s pressing problems, and suppression of dissent.
In a statement issued following a gathering along EDSA, Duterte said the turnout reflected what she described as the growing public frustration with the administration.
“The people gathered in EDSA reflects a growing sentiment that I have consistently expressed since 2024,” Duterte said.
She said many Filipinos continue to face rising prices, job insecurity, and the increasing cost of living while the government has failed to respond to these challenges.
The Vice President also accused the administration of using the justice system to silence critics by filing cases against and detaining individuals who question alleged corruption, criticize the President, or raise concerns about the government’s performance.
According to Duterte, these actions have raised concerns about freedom of expression, democratic accountability, and the shrinking space for political dissent.
“The President’s failures of character and leadership have fostered an increasingly oppressive political environment,” she said.
Duterte added that a government that answers criticism with intimidation undermines the very democratic institutions it is sworn to protect.
She said the issue goes beyond politics, saying it concerns the integrity of the state and the future of Filipinos who continue to struggle with economic hardship.
Duterte emphasized that the Filipinos’ voices are increasingly being suppressed.
Thousands of members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo gathered at the People Power Monument in Quezon City for a lightning rally on Tuesday.
The gathering came amid heightened political tensions following reports that the Office of the Ombudsman is set to file criminal complaints before the Sandiganbayan against Senator Rodante Marcoleta over alleged campaign donations during the 2025 elections.
Marcoleta has denied the allegations, saying the planned case is politically motivated.
The rally was also held just days before the Senate is scheduled to begin the impeachment proceedings against the Vice President. [By Ivy Tejano]
